FIGURE 3.6 Natural runoff (solid line) and blue water consumed (dashed line) per month for the Brahmaputra. Note that the y-axis is a log scale. The Brahmaputra has very little water scarcity, except in February and March, although water consumption still does not exceed natural runoff during those months. The large spike in natural runoff in the period June to September corresponds to the monsoon period. SOURCE: Based on data from Hoekstra and Mekonnen (2011).

Basin seems less likely to be water stressed according to this metric, except for a brief dry period in February and March (Figure 3.6).

The picture that emerges is nevertheless one in which water scarcity, be it generalized or seasonal, will intensify in the coming decades. Climate change will also influence the extent and severity of intensifying

FIGURE 3.7 Natural run-off (solid line) and blue water (dashed line) consumed per month for the Ganges. The Ganges has very little water scarcity, except in February and March, when water consumption exceeds natural runoff. The large spike in natural runoff in August corresponds to the monsoon period. SOURCE: Based on data from Hoekstra and Mekonnen (2011).

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